Our challenge: Create a premium smartphone experience for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money. We put some of our top engineers on the task and the result is the new Moto E which brings some of our most premium experiences to our most affordable phone for the first time. Now more people everywhere can choose a great smartphone experience.

“When we were designing this new generation of Moto E, we went back to consumers who bought the first generation,” said Kristin Arnold, one of our consumer researchers. “We really listened to what they liked about the phone and how we could make this affordable device even more useful to them and more powerful.”

For instance, we heard you like taking pictures—selfies to be specific. So we added a front facing camera and, for the first time, we brought one of our most popular experiences on the Moto X to the new Moto E.

“Quick Capture has been one of the most popular features we have on Moto X. So we decided to bring it to Moto E, too. It’s just one more way we are able to bring our premium innovation into a smartphone that doesn’t break the bank,” said Michelle Gattuso, product management director.

There’s more than just Quick Capture, too. The new Moto E is engineered to include dual accelerometers that enable some of the most popular features found on Moto X. We included Moto Display and Motorola Assist. With Moto Display, the Moto E will stay dark until you nudge it or get a notification, so you can stay up on top of things with just a subtle glance. And with Motorola Assist’s Sleep Mode and Meeting Mode, you can tell Moto E when you don’t want to be bothered.

A phone is more than just what is inside of it. It’s also about how it looks and feels. The Moto E has a curved back, ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in your hand and not bend in your back pocket. You can also choose a soft touch finish on the black Moto E for a more comfortable feel and better grip.

And we sweated the small stuff.

“We embrace authentic materials and focus on even the tiniest design details, like the elegant spin finish around the camera bezel and texture on the buttons. This kind of attention to detail creates a premium look you usually see in more expensive devices,” said SangSoo Park, a designer for Moto E.

And we always want to give you the ability to personalize the device with customizable colors to fit your style. You can choose from among six colorful Motorola Bands that are easy to swap out. Not only are these patented bands designed to look great, but they also feature a unique ridged pattern which provides an even better grip.

Our President Rick Osterloh said it best, “We designed the Moto E with the idea that people shouldn’t have to pay a lot to join the connected world and experience it at its best. So we did what other companies weren’t doing with their affordable devices. We packed in great design, great engineering and great software. We’re also providing great customer service and software updates that continue long after you buy the phone. Now that’s real bang for the buck. And that’s what makes Moto E different. ”

We’re all about giving people the power to choose. That’s what drives us and that’s the idea behind the new Moto E - that a great smartphone should be a choice for everyone. So we saw an opportunity to make a great, affordable device for people who don’t want spend a lot money.

Check out the video to find out more about what’s new in the next generation Moto E. It has Lollipop, the latest Android OS, works at fast 4G speeds, and even has ability to personalize it using colorful Motorola Bands. For me though, my favorite part of Moto E is how we brought some of our most premium experiences to our most affordable phone for the first time.

I can’t wait to see what people start sharing with their new Moto E. Enjoy.

We’re big on firsts at Motorola. Whether that’s your first job, your first phone or your first status post. We live in a world where new experiences and information can be at our fingertips and that’s exactly what we want to give more people more access to. There are millions of people that haven’t yet joined the smartphone revolution because they either haven’t found the right product or they don’t want to spend hundreds of hard earned dollars to start the journey.

That’s why last year we launched Moto E, a new class of smartphone tailored for those looking for a great mobile experience at a price that wouldn’t break the bank. Now, we’re taking Moto E a step further. We’re introducing the next generation, packed with more features and functionality to give people around the world even greater access to life’s possibilities - without a hefty price tag. Because we believe access to the mobile internet should be a choice, not a privilege.

The new Moto E helps you connect to the world like never before. Now available with 4G LTE speed, a 4.5-inch qHD display, front-facing camera, the latest Android™ software (Lollipop) and even more customization options. And, for the first time, we're bringing personalized software experiences that we introduced with Moto X to our most affordable device. The new Moto E packs a bigger smartphone punch for a fraction of the average smartphone cost.

What’s New with Moto E:

Start connecting at 4G LTE / 4G speed
We took an already great smartphone and paired it with the best network in the world. Start browsing the web, streaming music, playing games and watching videos all at 4G LTE speeds. The new Moto E will also be available in a 3G version.

Do more, faster, with a quad-core processor
The new Moto E features a powerful Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor with a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU and advanced graphics. Start switching back and forth between your favorite apps without slowing down. Or listen to music and surf the web at the same time -- without missing a beat.

Keep going with an all-day battery
With a 2390 mAh battery, the new Moto E is designed to last a full day. Dash to school or work in the morning. Meet up with family or friends. Then head out for the evening. All without worrying about stopping to recharge.

Take more shots with two cameras
The new Moto E comes with a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a second camera in front, making it perfect for selfies or video calls with family and friends. With two twists of the wrist, you can launch the camera with Motorola’s Quick Capture feature. Want to take a selfie? Just twist your wrist again to switch to the front-facing camera. All without touching the screen.

Start with the latest Android™ OS, Lollipop
The new Moto E runs Android™ Lollipop, the latest version of the world’s most popular mobile operating system.

Let the fun begin... just add color
Give your phone a splash of color with interchangeable Motorola Bands and Grip Shells. Start with a black or white phone and then choose from six Motorola Bands like turquoise or raspberry, or attach a colorful Grip Shell for added protection from scrapes and spills.

Make it easy with Moto software experiences
With the new Moto E, you get premium Moto experiences like Moto Display for notifications and updates without interruptions and Moto Migrate to quickly and easily transfer contacts, photos and videos to your new phone.

Starting today, the new Moto E will begin rolling out in more than 50 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. It will be available unlocked in the U.S. at www.motorola.com for $119.99 (3G) and $149.99 (LTE).

4G LTE not available in all regions. Contact your carrier for availability.All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average mixed use profile that includes both usage and standby time. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, and voice, data, and other application usage patternsMotorola Bands and Grip Shells sold separately.

IMAGES: Images can be found here (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video)

Some sweet news for Moto Maxx and Moto E today: As we promised, we are continuing to expand Android 5.0, Lollipop to two more devices! We have begun rolling out Lollipop for Moto Maxx with soak testing in Brazil and Mexico and for Moto E in Brazil and India (learn more information about soaks here).

Lollipop will first come to Moto Maxx and Moto E smartphones bought at retail. As we normally do, we’re starting by rolling out the upgrade to smaller test groups, and if the results are strong, we will expand the software to more phones.

For Moto E users, you can prepare for the upgrade by making sure you have the latest version of Motorola Update Services from the Play Store.

We’re working hard to continually make your phone better and better with the latest Android, and we will keep pushing out new software to you. If you’re new to Lollipop, check out our FAQs and support notes and give the Motorola Owners’ Forum a spin for additional insight from other users and experts. You can always check the latest on upgrade news for your phone by visiting our Software Updates page. Please let us know what you think about Lollipop on our Facebook, Google+, or Twitter. Enjoy!